The first hurdle to jump over is presenting a great resume.
To get your foot into the door of any job, a quality resume (sometimes
referred to as a curriculum vitae or CV) is a must.
There are a few must-haves on any resume, to ensure you not
only win the job, but also set yourself up for the best salary and conditions
possible.
We have laid out some tips to make sure you don’t miss out
on that next opportunity.
Keywords are Important
Many recruiters and hiring managers now use automated
software that will scan your resume for keywords to find specific elements they
are looking for. This could scan for job title, duties or the name of software
and machinery you need to use.
If there are essential skills listed in the job ad
description, make sure these words are included in your resume, so you don’t
get overlooked.
Keep it Brief
Unless requested, try to keep your resume between one to two
pages. Any more and you will risk losing the reader with unnecessary
information. You can always leave out old jobs that are not relevant to your
current career.
Education
Only include education that is related to your current career. No need to include primary school, TAFE or short courses that are not relevant to the job you are applying for.
Personal Info Out
Your age, marital status, religion, or nationality does not need to be included. All this information is now illegal for your employer to ask. Also, for security reasons don’t include your date of birth or full address.
Cover Letter
If they have asked for a cover letter, make sure you write one that covers the requirements.
This is also a good opportunity to sell yourself and tell the employer why you would like to work for them.
Submission Requirements
Make sure you are following the employers’ instructions for submissions. Some hirers will only accept Word documents, so make sure you read the submission instructions in full.
Proofreading
Before submitting, make sure to read the cover and resume out loud to yourself. This will spot typos and you will notice any overused words. Also give it to someone else to read. If you write it, you may make some easy mistakes.
Keep it Professional
If you still have a “fun” Hotmail address from the 2000s, now is the time to update it, firstname.i.lastname@gmail.com is always a safer option. You can always forward it to your old address, so you don’t miss any notifications.
First Resume or Want an Overhaul
For those new to resume writing, here is some great information from the experts at Seek https://www.seek.com.au/career-advice/article/what-is-a-resume. Also, here is a great easy to use resume template to get you started: https://cdn.seeklearning.com.au/files/career-advice/SEEK-resume-template-2.docx
Ready to find that new role? Head to our Job Search page where you can find your new opportunity https://www.hoban.com.au/jobs/
